Conservative MSNBC political correspondent and Daily Beast contributor Tucker Carlson and liberal Time Magazine blogger and Daily Beast contributor Ana Marie Cox were online Wednesday, Dec. 3 to dissect and debate the latest political developments in this post-election, pre-inauguration liminal time.

A transcript follows.

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Washington, D.C.: I have to say I found the "Obama cabinet diversity is more than skin deep" headline and article quite ridiculous. They are obviously insinuating that Bush's was skin deep, which isn't true. He has women, African Americans, Asians, older and younger people. Come on, folks, I am expecting a lot of short memories from Obama-fawning journalists but the current diverse cabinet is still sitting there... pretty easy to fact check.

Tucker Carlson: More to the point, who cares what color anyone's cabinet members are? At this point is there anyone who thinks pigment is half as important as ability? In the face of a severe recession and two wars, "diversity" suddenly seems like an outdated concern, at least to me. To his credit, Obama seems to agree.

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Rochester, N.Y.: Do you consider yourselves to be a team of rivals?

Ana Marie Cox: DRINK.

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Northville, N.Y. : It won't get one-tenth the coverage of the exciting David Gregory story, but NBC has been effectively running pro-military hardware info-mercials for years through its use of this McCaffrey guy, and they don't see any problem with it at all. Well, why not? Wouldn't you guys like to go on something like Meet the Press with pitchmen and rapturous audiences, demonstrating the latest features of armored personnel carriers? Its the free market, right, Tucker? We don't seem to be making anything else that the world wants to buy, at least until we invent some other kind of phony financial instrument to fleece them with. News isn't selling, so let's change the product.

Ana Marie Cox: I think David Gregory will bring a measure of "Gen X" wit and irreverence to the stately franchise of MTP and in looking down the road, an increased presence for Chuck Todd -- or, as the kids call him "Chuckie T" (funny! like a rap name!)...

Wait, that wasn't the question?

I do think it'd be fun to play around in an armored personnel carrier, but I sense that your point is that MS/NBC probably should play more of a "watchdog" (i.e., "journalistic") role in selecting the men and women who comment on and contextualize (or, rather, don't contextualize!) the news. And I would agree. In general -- though maybe not with this general -- I don't have a problem with the fact that "analysts" have conflicts of interest. Unless one is hermetically sealed into a glass box, one will have conflicts of interest. But it is the responsibility of a news organization to 1) make their own judgment call about whether those conflicts rise to a level that makes the "analyst's" opinions suspect 2) let readers/viewers know what they are.

This message has been brought to you by Diet Coke.

Tucker Carlson: Let's me echo Ana: Diet Coke refreshes and enlivens in a way few other low-calorie beverages do. All the taste and none of the calories? Incredible. Take home a twelvepack today.

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Alexandria, Va.: I personally like Charlie Rangel but it seems like he engaged in unethical behavior and ought to be reprimanded. Why isn't there more reporting on this? Is it because the press like Rangel? Is it because presidential politics are eclipsing everything else?

washingtonpost.com: Ethics Questions Still Hounding Rangel (Washington Post Investigations Blog, Dec. 2)

Tucker Carlson: Yes, most people who've covered Rangel like him (including me), and that's part of it. But I also think everyone has always assumed he was corrupt. Now that we know for sure, it doesn't feel as newsworthy.

Ana Marie Cox: It's a sad truth that many of Washington's most interesting personalities -- the most obviously human of us -- tend to reveal themselves as the most flawed. The question is, I think, how did Rangel get away with it for so long if those that covered him suspected he was corrupt? I don't actually know the answer -- he could have been an exceptionally clever crook.

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Raleigh, N.C.: Good afternoon. With Colmes leaving his longtime companion Sean Hannity, you two are clearly the stars of the Odd Couple political chat circuit. How did you celebrate your ascension?

Ana Marie Cox: Who is this "Colmes" person you speak of? Are you talking about the resuscitation dummy that Sean Hannity sits next to? (I guess Fox has a lot of old guests or something.)

Tucker Carlson: That implies one of us would have to be Colmes. Nothing's worth that.

For the record, what a nice guy he is. what a horrible job.

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Susan from Montclair, N.J.: Colin Powell... America should could use a guy like him. Many of my circle were disappointed he didn't get Sec of State... or maybe he was asked and declined? Do you think he'll have a role in any form in this new administration????

Ana Marie Cox: I have no first-hand reporting on this whatsoever, but my sense is that Powell is quite content to sit mostly on the sidelines of this administration. The one position he's been rumored to be offered/interested in is Education, which, while important, is not the kind of center-stage act that SoS would be, and may better suit the temperament of a man who seems to realize he has a debt to repay to the country.

Tucker Carlson: Powell's an impressive guy, and maybe the best speaker I have ever heard before a live audience. Really terrific. But in case you missed it, he was not a terrific secretary of state. At all.

A couple weeks ago, he told David Remnick of the New Yorker that he's not interested in going back into government. I believe him.

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Diversity : One landmark that Obama can establish is to work to make affirmative action need-based; the idea of giving preferences to a child of wealth and privilege who happens to have some minority parentage or relatives is ludicrous. It's a Nixon to China moment that all would applaud.

Tucker Carlson: Amen. I think affirmative action began with noble goals. I think many of the people who support it now have good intentions. But on a basic level it's unfair. Everybody knows this, despite what they pretend. Getting rid of it would do a lot to improve race relations. I think Obama could do it. I hope so.

Ana Marie Cox: He could do it, it would be revolutionary, it might even succeed -- but I don't think it's at the top of his list right now.

Ana Marie Cox: Though I want to reiterate the comment that "diversity is more than skin color." True! What I'd want out of the change in affirmative action policy suggested by "Diversity" is that income/class be ADDED to the equation when figuring out what is a worthwhile goal of affirmative action, not that racial/ethnic/cultural goals be entirely supplanted by it.

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Miami, Fla.: Reportedly, blues-folk great and civil rights activist Odetta died yesterday -- after weeks of trying to hold on to live long enough to sing at Barack Obama's inauguration. Beyond that clue, is there any information yet on what Obama has planned for his inauguration (a la Robert Frost at Kennedy's, and Maya Angelou at Clinton's)?

washingtonpost.com: Odetta, 77; Sang the Soundtrack for the Civil Rights Movement (Washington Post obituary, Dec. 3)

Washington Post Inauguration Watch blog

Tucker Carlson: Bring back Cat Stevens!

Ana Marie Cox: There's no leak regarding this as far as I know but could they get away WITHOUT inviting will.i.am or Springsteen? Personally, I'm hoping that Google will hold a celebratory "Nerd Ball" and invite, say, the Decemberists.

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re: colors in cabinet: Aren't the very people who talk about the fact that the US doesn't transcend race the same people who talk all the time about what color people's skin is? Seriously, the way to 'transcend race' is to actually stop talking about the color of Obama's cabinet. If you have a real story where someone doesn't hire black people or whatever, then yes, they haven't 'transcended' race - but that only bites someone in the butt in the long run (karma, etc). Can we stop reading about it?

Tucker Carlson: I couldn't agree more. I'm no social scientist, but I've noticed that all this talking about race -- this never-ending scab-picking disguised as "dialogue" -- seems to make people angrier and less satisfied with one another. Which strikes me as almost precisely counterproductive.

Ana Marie Cox: It was the genius of the Obama campaign, after all, to minimize this kind of talk in the first place.

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St Albans, Vt.: With the Democrats taking control here and the Conservative Party winning the Canadian election, how come we haven't heard any right-wing celebrities threatening to move north?

Tucker Carlson: Because conservatives only pay attention to politics when they have to.

Ana Marie Cox: Or maybe because "Canadian conservatism" is about as strong as American beer.

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Alexandria, Va.: How about Cox and Carlson for the 6 pm MSNBC slot? It has a nice ring to it and you complement each other very well. Some humor, some seriousness, and a lot of out of the box thinking. Any takers?

Tucker Carlson: It's a tough timeslot. I've been there. But also fun. And you're always home for dinner.

Ana Marie Cox: I have no other obligations, and it lends itself nicely to a civilized cocktail hour discussion. And, did I mention I have no other obligations?

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Bronx, N.Y. : Is/was Norm Coleman really the fourth most corrupt Senator? Isn't he entitled to recount this too?

Tucker Carlson: There's a corruption index?

Ana Marie Cox: Recounts for everyone!

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Chicago, Illinois: Hey Tucker, what is the libertarian response to an insolvent global financial system? At what point should intellectual purity give way to pragmatism?

Tucker Carlson: Government intervention in the market got us to this point. More governnment intervention won't get us out. That's the libertarian position. I'm no purist, but my instinct is to agree. At the least, advocates of more intervention -- takeovers, bailouts, etc... -- ought to have to demonstrate how their plans will work. But they never do. Instead, they yell louder: "We have to act before it's too late!" "Give up your freedom or the world will end!" And people obey, as they usually do when they're scared. As they did after 9-11. It's predictable, but depressing.

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Jivin': Will David Gregory invite Karl Rove on MTP to practice their smooth dance moves again?

Ana Marie Cox: As I recall, their act was rapping, not dancing. But Gregory sure has some moves when he chooses to bust them.

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Alexandria, Va: I have to take some issue with Tucker's assessment of Colin Powell as SofS. He "wasn't the best" but does this mean he couldn't have been? No SofS can be effective if he doesn't have the full support of the President. If foreign leaders don't think that the SofS is speaking for the President, then he's dead on arrival. I believe that Cheney and Rumsfeld effectively scuttled Powell to the point that he could never perform in that role. I do believe he could be great in it, just not under the outgoing Administration.

Your reaction?

Tucker Carlson: There's some truth in this. No question Obama moved away from the administration and the president after Iraq. But what gets me is how little Powell traveled. Here's this remarkable diplomat, respected all over the world. Imagine how much he could have helped our interests abroad if he'd tried harder. But he didn't.

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Alexandria, Va.: If either of you could re-create a Frost-Nixon dialogue with any figure in politics, both now and in the past, who would it be and why?

Tucker Carlson: Obama. After two years of daily coverage, I still have no idea what motivates him or what he really believes. I suppose we'll find out soon.

Ana Marie Cox: I may get mocked for this, but post-campaign McCain would be a fascinating interview. He's not the most reflective sort, but surely there's nothing like losing a presidential election -- except maybe prison camp -- to force one into philosophical mode.

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Chicago, Illinois: Did you see the Obama-Richardson press conference? A Hispanic reporter, I don't remember who, asked why Richardson didn't get State and said many Latinos perceived Commerce as a consolation prize. Obama answered deftly saying how important Commerce is to the pressing financial crisis.

Tucker Carlson: The idea that organized ethnic interest groups are whining about whether or not someone who looks like them got this or that job makes me ill. Again, who cares? Seriously. The only question that matters is: Is this person best qualified for the job?

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"Librul, " KS: Ana, I've admired you since The Panda Epoch, way back around the turn of the century.

I wasn't around for the Carter admin, but I keep hearing that this new Obama cabinet is starting to shape up like Carter's old one. To me, it looks like Clinton 2.7 (Now With Hope and Change!(tm)) Comments?

Ana Marie Cox: I don't know why we have to frame it as the something of anything. It's a whole new thing! I mean, I'm dubious about some of the picks' "changiness", sure, but the combination is unique and may produce something entirely new.

Also, have you seen the SHIBA INU PUPPY CAM?!?!?!

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washingtonpost.com: Shiba Inu Puppy Cam

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Washington: Was getting rid of the goatee part of the deal to make Richardson Commerce Sec'y? If so, good call. He always looked like he had just lifted his face out of a cake.

Tucker Carlson: For the record, I loved the goatee or soul patch or facial wig or whatever it was. Very cool.

Ana Marie Cox: Other than Richardson, Obama's team seems to embrace above-the-belt manscaping. (Axelrod, Holders...)

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Washington: Can we all look up the word rival? So if two people don't think exactly the same on everything, they are rivals? Are we to think that these so-called rivals think so differently from each other? The differences are minuscule.

But maybe they're seen as rivals compared to the lemmings hired by the current administration.

Ana Marie Cox: You didn't say "team of" and therefore we can't drink. Please try again.

And doesn't "competing for the same job" make people de facto rivals? You don't have to think differently or disagree, just be in a zero-sum game for the same thing. Right? I'm a little drunk right now so I can't recall for sure.

That said, you have a point that the whole fake controversy that HRC would be a BAD SoS because of that (yes I think so) rivalry.

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Alexandria, Va.: I read that Jeb Bush might run for the Florida Senate seat. Do you think people from political dynasties weigh the family name as part of their motivation? How much does that come into play?

Tucker Carlson: No doubt that his name helped him at one point, or that it hurts him now. If it weren't for his brother, Jeb would have been the Republican nominee this year.

Ana Marie Cox: I think Jeb could ONLY run in Florida, it's the only place where the voters know him well enough to not hold his name against him.

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Miami, Fla.: Tucker, occasional throwaway lines about Cat Stevens aside, you seem quite grouchy today. And Ana Marie, you seem ready for a steadying drink. What's really eating you two?

Tucker Carlson: Feelings of worthlessness, unresolved anxiety from my childhood, etc.... Actually, I flew in from LA last night, and didn't get enough sleep. Sorry to let my unpleasantness show. The problem with these chats is, you type so fast that you wind up revealing the truth.

Ana Marie Cox: Have I seemed not ready for a drink in the past? If so, I wish to correct that impression.

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Washington, D.C.: I tried watching Maddow, but I couldn't get past the smirky wiseass attitude. Am I a horrible person?

Ana Marie Cox: No, you're just the reason why there are -- thank God -- multiple outlets for political opinion.

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Schaumburg, Ill.: What do you think of Meet the Press going back to a moderator and a panel of the Press? You know... Meet the Press.

Ana Marie Cox: THIS IS A RADICAL IDEA THAT WOULD REDUCE THE NUMBER OF "CELEBRITY ANCHORS" AVAILABLE TO MSNBC. therefore a terrible suggestion.

Tucker Carlson: Ensemble shows don't work. This we know.

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Washington, D.C.: What's all this 'surprise' among the conservative set that Obama isn't Dennis Kucinich with a deep tan? Anyone who actually paid attention could tell he wouldn't govern like that. Did they actually believe their own bogeyman talk during the campaign?

Tucker Carlson: I'm mildly surprised, though pleasantly. Obama never struck me as particularly radical, though like everyone else outside his innermost circle I don't really know all that much about him. I'd imagine the real surprise is on the activist left right now. You promise "change" and appoint Hillary Clinton? They've got to be shocked and disappointed by that. Why aren't they saying so?

Ana Marie Cox: Tucker, have you read Daily Kos lately? I wouldn't say they're "shocked" but "disappointed" is putting it mildly. I'm, however, thrilled that the netroots will continue to be a sideshow, not actually, you know, running the country. Because I would rather figure out the economic mess than put Dick Cheney in prison for war crimes. (Ideally, I'd like both, but this is why I am not a net root. Just a annoying net thorn.)

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Washington D.C.: I'm listening to the Decemberists right now! Does that get me two tickets to the Nerd Ball?

Ana Marie Cox: But which OS are you running? What kind of phone do you have? Can you name the known Cylons? In other words, ARE YOU NERDY ENOUGH?

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Colmes: Al Franken used to say that Colmes was restricted from calling out Hannity when he lies. Franken showed Colmes a list of Hannity lies and Colmes said they were only allowed to go after their guests. In effect, one guy gets to lie and the other can't explicitly call him out.

Tucker Carlson: I'm against people being mean to Alan Colmes. The guy's just playing a role, trying to feed his family, and all of a sudden he's Betraying the Cause. Let's cut Alan some slack.

Ana Marie Cox: I guess I was just mean to him but, yeah, there are worse way to earn a living than to be Sean Hannity's punching bag. Actually BEING Sean Hannity is probably one of them.

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I tried watching Maddow, but I couldn't get past the smirky wiseass attitude. Am I a horrible person?: I have a man-crush on Maddow... am I a horrible person?

Ana Marie Cox: No, you are just a lesbian. Good for you! I understand you get good deals on sensible footwear.

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Fort Worth, Tex.: Heya, these chats are a bunch of fun. Now, what with your political insider-ship, I need help understanding something that all the politicians seem to agree upon, both the last administration and the new one. They seem to think that money is free, and that we can keep making more and more of it available. Seems to me at some point the rest of the world will realize that we have no intention of paying off our debts. Thoughts?

Ana Marie Cox: As long as NO ONE pays off their debts, we're cool. Seriously, though: As with most of the country, I think our democratic representatives have a math allergy that hinders realistic discussion and possible solutions to any given financial crisis. All that bailout money would be put to better -- if less timely -- use in ramping up mathematics education in the US and getting up to speed with the rest of the world -- or the best of the world, really.

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Washington, D.C.: This question is for Mr. Carlson. In one of your recent chats you described President Jimmy Carter as being nasty (in regard to his idealism, I think). I was quite young when Carter was president and while I'd always heard him described as ineffective I'd never before heard that he was rude or nasty in any way; especially given his humanitarian and peace-keeping efforts since leaving office. I've always thought of him as a kind grandfatherly-type and was just wondering if I'd missed something. I enjoy the chats very much. Thank you.

Tucker Carlson: I have a couple of friends who worked at high levels in the Clinton Administration. Both are liberal. One thing they agree on: Jimmy Carter was the most difficult, self-righteous, unpleasant person they had to deal with all eight years.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Just wanted to add... I like this 'show'. So glad I started following Ana Marie on Twitter (that's how I found out about it).

Tucker... do you twitter??

Tucker Carlson: I twitter, but not in public.

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Fort Lee, N.J. : Can you stand a Minn. recount question? I say that the Senate will seat whoever Minnesota certifies as the winner; if Coleman wins by one vote, they'll seat him; Franken, ditto. I don't see them jobbing a sitting Senator, nor do I see the majority screwing a fellow Democrat. If you show up in Washington with a lead, that's all she wrote. Am I wrong?

Ana Marie Cox: I HOPE you're right. And all the signal from the top (Obama) seem to indicate that he'd rather get on with the business of governing (there's kind of a lot to do!) rather than get bogged down in a fight whose winner would never really be clear.

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Alexandria, Va.: Don't you just love that Biden didn't stick to his prepared remarks but managed to get a joke out of Governor Palin being in attendance and him not getting any publicity? Is it an early cry for some attention or is Joe just being Joe?

Tucker Carlson: Biden has less self-control than I do, which is saying a lot. By the end, we'll be grateful for him. He's that entertaining.

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Minneapolis: Sorry if I'm irony-challenged, but are you being facetious about the exciting David Gregory? Talk about the easy way out. I've nothing against the guy -- his hair is amazing -- but Gwen Ifill or even Andrea Mitchell -- now that could have been exciting (or at least a change from the status quo).

Ana Marie Cox: Irony is hard to hear over the internets some times, it's okay. I also have nothing against Gregory and have even found him entertaining at times. He's certainly a nice guy and can do "confrontational" well. But it's a safe, steady pick, nothing more.

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Alexandria, Va.: I was wondering whether either of you had any sense of how Senate Democrats feel about Franken? Are they terrified at the prospect of him being a gaffe machine or are they genuinely looking forward to his presence and gags in the cloakroom?

Tucker Carlson: Franken is less funny the closer you get to him. Senate Democrats want his vote, but I suspect they dread working with him. Or will.

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Powell?: I disagree that Colin Powell should hold a responsible position in the Obama or any administration. He saw that going to war with Iraq was a mistake but chose to play the 'good soldier' and go along, rather than follow his principles and resign. We don't need more of that.

Ana Marie Cox: I was trying to suggest that Powell might choose to take a role that would allow him to redeem himself for that tremendous and horrible decision.

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Iowa: After President-Elect Obama's choice of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, is there any personnel selection he could make that would be equally startling? (Willie Nelson for Ag Secretary -- we here in farm country are wondering who will be chosen for that post?)

Ana Marie Cox: I would be happy to just have him play inauguration.

Tucker Carlson: Willie's a great idea. Kucinich needs a role too (maybe the Department of Peace isn't so crazy after all) and so does leading Democratic strategist Rep. Jim Traficant, who unfortunately is still in prison, but could be sprung by presidential pardon. Anyone interesting will do, as far as I'm concerned. What's the point of being the change president if you can't come up with a single zany choice?

I'll keep thinking about it. See you next week.

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Ana Marie Cox: And so it ends. Thanks for joining us! I'm reminded that we're on at 3pm next week, so, you know, set your watches and stuff. Bye!

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washingtonpost.com: Join us again Thursday at 1 p.m. ET for more political fun with Washington Sketch artist Dana Milbank!

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